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Even though Thanksgiving has not yet come and gone, with each passing day the Christmas holiday season already seems more entrenched than what it was the day before.
Many "old-timers" 60 and above can recall when their family did not even begin to think about the end-of-the-year holidays until after Dec. 1.
And, on Dec. 1 for those families who every year adorned their homes with a live Christmas tree, the thought of the upcoming "tree hunt" had not yet begun capturing their attention.
But as virtually everyone now acknowledges, times have changed, and the upcoming holidays already have been a very real presence for days or weeks, with some people lamenting that they already are significantly behind in their holiday planning.
Nevertheless, step back and give thought to the many good things that already are happening around you.
On Tuesday, for example, the Salvation Army kicked off its annual Red Kettle Campaign that helps fund the "Army's" programs throughout the coming year.
This year the goal is to raise $70,000, a figure $30,000 less than 2022's target figure. However, as Salvation Army Capt. Larry Fulmer explained, "It is lower this year because we know it is hard to give with everything being so expensive lately."
That is a commendable viewpoint on Fulmer's part, but the challenge nevertheless is for this generous community to help the Salvation Army try to match last year's goal, which was not excessive for a community with Altoona's level of prosperity.
Hopefully, that same attitude will prevail in regard to the Mirror's annual Season of Sharing campaign, which will benefit Sweat for Vets, an organization dedicated to helping area service members, veterans and their families who are in need, as well as local veterans-related organizations.
While no specific goal has been set, it is important to recognize what good every dollar will mean to the Sweat for Vets cause, whose work, like the Salvation Army's, continues year-round.
As members of Logan Township's five volunteer fire companies this week were preparing, for the 15th year, to pack the makings of Thanksgiving dinners that will be delivered to 33 needy families on Saturday, local stores were busy preparing for the holiday shopping frenzy that will mark the next five weeks.
An article in the Nov. 10 Mirror reported hiring plans for seasonal workers at stores including Unkel Joe's Woodshed, Bath & Body Works and JCPenney, as well as at United Parcel Service.
When the holiday shopping onslaught ends, some seasonal workers will be offered permanent positions, presumably because they performed in an excellent way amid the pressures that holiday shopping presented.
Then there is Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving.
An article in the Mirror's Nov. 4-5 edition predicted that that busiest of shopping days might be different this year because many consumers are feeling a financial pinch, while some retailers are facing pressures as well.
"A lot of macroeconomic indicators are pointing to a big slowdown in spending," said Jeff Galak, associate professor of marketing at Carnegie Mellon University's Tepper School of Business.
It is reasonable to surmise, though, that the predicted slowdown might not materialize. The nation's economic front is experiencing many changes.
Yes, the Christmas holiday season is more entrenched today than it was yesterday.
The best advice to shoppers and others at this time is to pursue holiday objectives calmly and with respect toward others, and to not get too upset if something does not turn out quite right.